INTERNATIONAL. The way surveying is done in mining, tunnelling, drilling and construction projects is set to change dramatically, thanks to a new software technology that global engineering and infrastructure advisory company Aurecon has developed.

Currently, the status quo for inspecting rock faces is a manual process where geologists measure the failure planes and joints on the rock face in the field. With Aurecon’s new digital rock mass mapping from UAV photogrammetry tool, this can be done more accurately, quickly, safely and remotely.

Camilla Gibbons, Aurecon Infrastructure Associate in New Zealand, said that with the use of drones, smart algorithm development and software, the manual part of surveying has been transformed into a computerised method.

“We are prototyping a software solution that uses drones to take digital photos of rocks and sites so that we can create 3D digital models. Our team has developed algorithms to extract the data from the photos so that we can automatically identify the areas that need to be measured within seconds,” said Gibbons.

Around the world, whether South Africa or New Zealand, manual measurement methods are routinely used to get a statistically valid data set to represent the rockface. Not only is this a time-consuming process, but it also puts people in a high-risk environment for an unnecessarily long time.

In environments like mine pits, quarries and large construction sites, people share spaces with large vehicles and plants. But in environments where companies are aiming for automated processes, the mixing of people and plant occurs minimally at best to ensure efficiency and most of all safety.

Richard Matchett, Aurecon Digital Practice Lead in RSA & Rest of Africa, said UAV rock mapping provides a unique opportunity for teams working on monitoring large cut faces along national roads in the more mountainous areas of South Africa.

“We are collaborating with the Aurecon team in New Zealand to develop proof of concept of the digital mapping in these applications, and see possibilities with other major projects in the SADEC region. Aurecon is awaiting their Remote Operators Certificate (ROC) from the Civil Aviation Authority in South Africa that will enable us to operate UAVs extensively on large infrastructure projects. The added functionality provided through these algorithms will provide yet another application of aerial data capture to our growing digital offering,” said Matchett.

On a project site in Hong Kong, Aurecon’s geological assessment team estimated that a year’s worth of field work would be needed to measure and assess the specific rock faces. Using the new digital rock mass mapping from UAV photogrammetry tool meant the team would be able to reduce the time to two months.

“Not only does this tool vastly improve the time it takes our engineers to deliver solutions, but it also results in cost savings for the client. There are also massive health and safety implications as geologists and surveyors won’t have to physically reach each part of a site, rock or cliff that they need to measure,” said Gibbons.

Formwork requirements such as scaffolding, which also has a direct impact on construction project timelines and cost efficiencies, will also be greatly impacted by the new tool. With road construction and tunnelling projects, for example, lanes are generally closed and scaffolding is erected or elevated work platforms used so that geologists can reach the cliffs that they need to measure. The digital rock mass mapping from UAV photogrammetry tool would eliminate the need for these access solutions on a number of projects.

The software that Aurecon is prototyping utilises machine learning in combination with Geotech software to derive and display rock joints in an interactive photogrammetry model.

“We are able to achieve high quality and accurate results. In the future, we envision that the tool can be used to design rock bolts as well as mesh and support methods that can be added into 3D design models to further the asset management records for our clients,” concluded Gibbons.

In an environment where the safety records of companies are under active discussion and the work environment of staff is being redesigned, this technology will be a valuable addition to the arsenal of tools reinventing the Future of Work.

About AureconAurecon is an engineering and infrastructure advisory company, but not as you know it. We’ve reimagined engineering.

Our clients’ ideas and aspirations drive all that we do. We work alongside them like no other firm to co-create clever, innovative solutions to some of the world’s most complex challenges, adding value across the project lifecycle through deep technical and advisory expertise. We serve our clients across a range of markets, in locations worldwide. Hardwired in our DNA are engineering, design and the deep need to leave a legacy. We are as diverse as we are dynamic. As curious as we are clever.

Drawing on our deep pool of knowledge, we bring vital engineering experience, technical capability and design expertise to the table. Then we listen deeply and intently. We see the opportunities, possibilities and potential that others don’t. Through a range of unique creative processes and skills, we collaborate with our clients to re-imagine, shape and design a better future.

We believe humanity depends on engineering; and we recognise we have a broader stewardship role to play. A deep responsibility to hold. As we continually strive for a life in balance, Aurecon clients will be both future ready and engineered for life.